School Geography Trips to Sicily
Catania | Mount Etna | Aeolian Islands | Alcantara Gorges | Taormina
Eastern Sicily offers a spectacular setting for students studying GCSE and A-Level Geography. School Geography Trips to Sicily combine dynamic volcanic landscapes, coastal environments, river features, and human interactions with natural hazards, giving pupils the opportunity to see textbook concepts come vividly to life. A perfect balance of education, adventure, and culture.
Additional Visits and Enrichment Opportunities:
- Teatro Antico di Taormina: Explore the links between ancient civilisations and landscape use.
- Optional full-day excursion to Agrigento or Siracusa: Enhance cultural and historical understanding of Sicily’s ancient past.
- Cannoli Cooking Class in Taormina: A fun cultural activity to experience Sicilian traditions first-hand.
School Geography Trips to Sicily – Curriculum Links:
GCSE Geography Topics:
- Natural Hazards: Tectonic Hazards (Volcanoes)
- Physical Landscapes: Rivers and Coasts
- Urban Challenges and Tourism Management
A-Level Geography Topics:
- Plate Tectonics and Associated Hazards
- Coastal Systems and Landscapes
- Water and Carbon Cycles
- Contemporary Urban Environments
School Geography Trips to Sicily
- Duration: 4 Days
- Board: Full board
- Passengers: 40
- Free Staff Places: 5
Accommodation
King’s House Hotel Resort
Set in the charming town of Fondachello di Mascali, King’s House Hotel Resort offers comfortable, family-friendly accommodation perfect for school groups. Each air-conditioned room features a private balcony, bathroom, sofa bed, work desk, and complimentary WiFi. The hotel boasts excellent facilities, including an infinity swimming pool, a sun terrace, lush gardens and free on-site parking.
Excursions & Inclusions
Teatro Antico di Taormina, Optional full-day excursion to Agrigento or Siracusa, Cannoli Cooking Class in Taormina. Aeolian Islands, Alcantara Gorges, Taormina.
Where it’s held
Catania/Giardini Naxos Area, Eastern Sicily, Italy
Our base for the trip is in the vibrant eastern region of Sicily, close to Catania, Mount Etna, and the stunning coastline. This prime location allows easy access to world-famous volcanic landscapes, coastal environments, river features, and historic towns—perfect for enriching GCSE and A-Level Geography learning objectives.
Sample Itinerary for School Geography Trips to Sicily
Day 1: ARRIVAL (D)
Arrive at Catania Airport, where you will be greeted by your coach driver and transferred to your hotel in the Catania/Giardini Naxos area, the ideal gateway to explore Sicily's volcanic coast. Depending on your arrival time, take a panoramic coach tour of Catania, famed for its Baroque architecture and proximity to Mount Etna, a city shaped by volcanic eruptions – ideal for exploring urban responses to natural hazards (GCSE/A-Level Geography: Natural Hazards, Urban Environments). Alternatively, enjoy a coastal drive along the Cyclops Riviera, observing dramatic volcanic formations and coastal features linked to myth and legend. Check into your hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner. Overnight stay in the Catania/Giardini Naxos area.
Day 2: MOUNT ETNA (B, D)
After breakfast, set off on an unforgettable guided tour of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. Explore extinct craters, lava flows, and witness volcanic landforms up close. If weather conditions allow, you may even ascend closer to the summit for panoramic views. This visit ties directly into GCSE and A-Level Geography topics, including Plate Tectonics, Volcanic Hazards, and Hazard Management Strategies. Students will see real-world examples of human adaptation to life on the slopes of a volcano.
Day 3: AEOLIAN ISLANDS – VULCANO OR STROMBOLI (B, D)
Travel to Milazzo Port and board a ferry to the breathtaking Aeolian Islands. Students can choose between: • Vulcano: Famous for its black sand beaches, fumaroles, and mud baths. A great case study for volcanic processes and sustainable tourism. • Stromboli: Known as the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean," Stromboli's continuous volcanic activity offers an extraordinary example of an active volcano in action, ideal for volcanology studies. Guided tours provide a deep dive into the islands’ geology, tourism management, and conservation challenges. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: ALCANTARA GORGES & TAORMINA (B, D)
Morning visit to the stunning Alcantara Gorges, formed by ancient lava flows cooled rapidly by river water. Explore the basaltic canyon and learn about fluvial processes, river landforms, and river management—directly linked to GCSE/A-Level Geography topics on Rivers and Coastal Landscapes. Afterwards, continue to the beautiful hilltop town of Taormina for a 2-hour guided tour. Visit the ancient Greek Theatre and admire spectacular coastal views. Discussion will cover historical human settlement patterns, tourism impacts, and sustainable management strategies—critical for both urban and rural geography units. Return to your hotel for a final celebratory dinner.
Day 5: DEPARTURE (B)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport. Depending on flight times, enjoy some final sightseeing in Catania, including visits to Piazza del Duomo and the Cyclops Riviera. Perfect for a final reflection on the trip’s key geographical themes: natural processes, hazards, and human responses. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.